“For the next three days, we are going to draft prototypical players that play football well in their pads on the football field.”

My translation: The Dolphins were not going to fall in love with combine players or anyone who had a great workout. They wanted to focus on football players and not let a 40 time or individual workout alter their thought process. They made it a point to have their draft board completely graded before they went to the Indy combine. They weren’t going to be swayed by workout warriors, and they were going to make sure they stayed true to their philosophical beliefs. Those beliefs are centered on size and speed football players — but the speed is functional football speed.

I think the combines and pro days tell coaches a lot about these players...but the problem is some teams (coughtheraiderscough) put too much stock into it. I'm glad that our own FO focuses on getting pure football players instead of pure athletes.

I think the merely gives you some measurables, it doesn't prove how a player performs on the field. Too some extent it helps kids from smaller skills to get recognized for the physical talents. I agree with the approach of weighting your draft on how they perform on the field. Too much stock is put in the combine in my opinion.